Benedict Cumberbatch and Chiwetel Ejiofor have been filming Marvel’s Doctor Strange for months now. The filming has taken them from Nepal to London and now to New York. On Saturday, paparazzi got photos of Chiwetel and Benedict filming on the streets of New York, and both men were in their full Strange costumes. This is actually our first look at both of them in their big superhero/villain costumes. I mean, we had a glance (sort of) of the costumes while they were shooting in Nepal, and Benedict has also already been on the cover of Entertainment Weekly in his Doctor Strange gear. But this is different. We get to see the whole look and how it moves and the weirdness of Benedict’s hairpiece and face merkin.
Benedict is playing Doctor Stephen Strange and Chiwetel is Baron Mordo. Tilda Swinton is the Ancient One and Rachel McAdams is… well, we’re still not entirely sure. Chiwetel and Benedict are old friends and they notably worked together on 12 Years a Slave. Chiwetel had been looking to join up with a successful franchise for a while (he flirted with the James Bond franchise but ended up walking away), and I think it’s good for him to join up with Marvel. That being said, his expression in some of these photos is set to “FML.” Maybe that’s because Benedict Strange and Chiwetel Mordo had to run down the street and jump as high as possible like a million times in a row?
I’m assuming that there will be lots of special effects, like magical light beams floating off of Doctor Strange’s fingertips, which is why some of these photos look… odd. Oh well! I’m enjoying them though. Bendy had been wanting to do something with Marvel for the longest time. I’m glad he finally got this role.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
I desperately want this ridiculous comic book/ superhero trend to be finally over.
Not me! I love taking my tween to these, and these films are turning him into a graphic novels fan. They’re certainly not for everyone though, nor are they meant to be.
Oh, I could scream. Please make it stop.
ETA ok, Prairiegirl, that’s a good argument in favor. I’ll try to just ignore.
ITA, A.Key, but comic characters seem like such a natural fit for Cumby.
Oh, for Leonard Cohen’s sake! It’s a genre (part of a larger genre: adventure/ fantasy). It is not a trend.
Every thread, eeeeeeeeeevery thread there’s someone trying to dictate what others should or shouldn’t see.
Nobody is forcing you to watch them, for crying out loud!
It’s actually the other around: I’m not supposed to see my favorite characters in badass movies because there are people wanting them to stop being made. How dare you!
Don’t like them, don’t watch them. It’s as simple as that.
I support your right to see your favorite characters in badass movies and will do my small financial part by buying a ticket occasionally. I’ll see this one because I enjoy the way the MCU interconnects and, well, Mads and Chiwetel.
@ Lilacflowers:
Oh, my…I had forgotten Mads Mikkelsen is in this.
Look, I didn’t mean to attack anyone or sound aggressive. But it gets tiresome, you know?
I HATE those legally blonde movies. So there’s this magic device called remote control. The moment I see Witherspoon in pink on screen, I click on the thing and the annoying movie about an annoying blonde disappears! It’s amazing.
I thought you sounded perfectly reasonable. I often feel the same way when I see people on threads saying don’t post about a particular actor/actress any more. Why do they want to deprive others of what brings joy? Just don’t click on the thread or do and make snide remarks about why you dislike said actor/actress, don’t go see the film or watch the television show but let others have what they enjoy. I don’t watch anything Kardashian but I don’t beg for threads about them to be stopped. And Leo DiCaprio leaves me cold so I tend to avoid the threads about him and whatever 23 year old model he had drinks with but if others enjoy them, and clearly they do, so be it.
And yes, Mads is in this! And Chiwetel! And Mads!
“Oh, for Leonard Cohen’s sake!” Loved the expression… 😀
And you’re right, I also like super heroes movies, used to read comics when I was a kid, mostly X-men, spiderman and batman…
Never read Dr Strange, so I guess I’ll enjoy the movie, since I have no expectations whatsoever because I don’t know his background story… 🙂
@ Solanacaea:
Since I’m an atheist, Leonard Cohen is the closest thing to a god to me (he’s a human being so he’s bound to have flaws and make mistakes, I’m aware of that).
I love him, love his songs because he manages to put into words almost every feeling I’ve ever felt.
The holy trinity is: Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Nick Cave.
That trio is quite the Trinity. Imagine if they ever performed together?
@ Lilacflowers:
I owe them a lot of years of my life. When things start getting seriously dark, I like to think: “But there’s still Leonard Cohen”.
They helped me improve my English, their lyrics ACTUALLY mean something and so on…they must outlive me. I haven’t been dealing well with loss.
P.S.: I’m still sad for Bowie, and Nick Cave lost a son last year (I feel for him). And my Bruna (the cat) disappeared. My queen, the furry thing that ruled my small little world.
2016 doesn’t seem to like me so far.
Eve, So sorry about Bruna, such a sad loss.
2016 has been brutal all around.
My wish for Bruna is that when she became lost, she was found and given a safe home by someone who will care for and love her as you do.
Oh Eve, I’m so sorry about your kitty! Hugs to you, and positive thoughts that she’s somewhere safe, and is well-loved.
Also, HONK for Tom Waits!
Thank you all.
I know I sound like a broken record but that’s because I really think about her all the time.
It’s heartbreaking not knowing where she is.
+1,000
Did Marvel decide to cut the costume budget and just give Chiwetel cast off pieces of Loki costumes?
Loki on holiday in Mirkwood.
Exactly.
Perfect!
But Chiwetel’s costume at least look wearable. That collar on Dr. Strange’s cape is the worse detail I’ve ever seen on a modern superhero costume (it dethroned Thor’s cape’s shoulders from Thor 1).
Chiwetel’s beats Strange’s costume by an elongated galaxy .If Loki is out marvel I will leave the Marvel films for good and go back to watching watch films,TV SHOWS and west end productions linked to actors I like.
It looks so similar, it actually made me wonder if there might be a connection! Maybe Mordo saw lots of pics of Loki after New York and decided that he likes his style?
It’s probably because I’m not a superhero movie fan but there is something quite ridiculous about two 40-something men dressed in over-the-top costumes (what is that red collar?! And that necklace?) and a LEGO wig for Cumberbatch, running and jumping around in a public street playing make-believe.
Utterly ridiculous! Which is why I can’t take my comic book heroes without a good dose of humour. I will continue to watch these films as long as they continue to cast some of the finest screen actors around; I always enjoy seeing them, even when they are doing something silly, and I appreciate that it then gives them the money and clout to go on and do other projects which are less marketable.
That’s my attitude exactly. I love seeing respected actors taking on these roles and then going back to Shakespeare or small, independent films. Plus, I take my 13 yo grandson and we have fun.(He did have to go to BvS with friends-I’m skipping that one.)
@Bread, who wrote: “It’s probably because I’m not a superhero movie fan but there is something quite ridiculous about two 40-something men dressed in over-the-top costumes (what is that red collar?! And that necklace?) and a LEGO wig for Cumberbatch, running and jumping around in a public street playing make-believe.”
🙂 Well, it ‘is’ the outfit Dr. Strange wore after his days of being a physician (a surgeon) ended due to an injury to his hands. Here is a link to some background on the Dr. Strange character–with ‘exact’ pictures from comic book pages of the character wearing the outfit you mention–from the Internet website “Comic Vine” as edited by Razie Wraith on 02/24/2016.
http://comicvine.gamespot.com/doctor-strange/4005-1456/
They can survive the ridiculous with the paycheck that comes with it.
You just described movie acting in general.
I almost didn’t click on this. Why didn’t you tell me there were yummy Chitwetel pics? 😡
That’s what I would have gone with.
Why did you eventually click though?
I clicked because I was going to make a snarky comment about the “smear of ketchup” on BC’s right cheek, but then I saw the photo of Chiwetel Ejiofor and forgot all about that other guy.
Honking for Chiwetel!!!
I really like Benedict Cumberbatch, but I still believe Keanu Reeves would have rocked the beard, the look, and this role. Dr. Strange was never a ‘young’ man in the comics I read when I was a child.
+10000
Agreed, Keanu would have been a better choice, and the costumes look bad. Will still see the movie because I like the Marvel stories (I haven’t seen any Batman and only watched the first Superman because Amy…)
Heavy sigh for what might have been: Keanu. Ah well. Maybe they’ll seek him out for some other character down the line. In the meantime, there’s John Wick.
I liked the Dr. Strange character, so will be checking this out. Tilda Swinton is a bonus for sure!
sigh. I still love the Batch. Massively talented. And still oddly gorgeous and strange. Chiwetel is always stunning. I fell in love with him in “Firefly”. What a performance. Oooh, my inner geek is emerging. I will see this movie.
I keep forgetting that that was him in Firefly! He was so brilliant.
He wasn’t in Firefly, he was in Serenity! Now that was a GREAT villain role, it made me a fangirl ever since.
Truth be told, I’d be very happy if someone were willing to pay me millions to put on a costume, run around, and point my fingers while mumbling mystical doggerel. By the beard of the Vishanti, I do this shit for free or for copies of the pictures.
Then of course he can deposit the hefty paycheck for all this silliness and move on to do a documentary about Buddhism. Which I think he just completed…..
Should be interesting. Never read the Dr. Strange comics, but I’ll give them a whirl. Still think Oded Fehd would have rocked as Strange.
Hmmmm. Interesting.
Looks stupid but Hollow Crown has had amazing reviews. I’m gutted I had to skip the BFI screening.
They both look fantastic. Dr. Strange has the potential to be one of the better films that Marvel has created.
The costumes, even with natural day light and without the post production effects, look GREAT.
Still…this could have been played by Joaquin Phoenix. I can’t get over that.
😢
Neither can I.
So close to sign on that dotted line, Joaquin. So close…
*thisclose* to sign the damn contract but that amazing motherf*cker slipped through Marvel’s fingers (or claws, depending on the way you see it).
As usual Eve, you have hit the nail on the head. What are these casting people thinking when they constantly miscast these choice parts? It seems like they focus on the flavour du jour, and can’t see past them to more suited candidates, of whom I am certain there are tons. Mr Phoenix being a case in point. There is not a part that he can’t play and elevate.
It’s always good to see you here, Eve, and I hope you are doing well, your friends here care for you and your well being. Good thoughts heading your way!
Thank you, dear.
🐾
🐾
P.S.: It was Phoenix who ultimately said no. The man does whatever he wants to do and I both LOVE and detest this about him. Best actor I’ve seen in my entire life. Flawless.
Yes, he did.
Phoenix is a great actor but terrible at promo, often at the expense of his co-stars.
Terrible fit for Marvel, and his promo issues are probably why he wasn’t Marvel’s first choice to begin with.
i gotta confess phoenix skives me out, i know that’s a personal thing, but he strikes me as a perv tbh and dating a teenager didn’t help lol
Marvel has worked around the promo issues of others in the past. Chris Hemsworth did none of the international promo for Thor2, other than show up at the premiers and the London press day. He did do the US promo on the talk show circuit but didn’t do the Asian or even the Australian PR. Anthony Hopkins did one interview on Leno. James Spader did very little PR for Age of Ultron and Robert Redford did very little for Winter Soldier. Samuel L. Jackson shows up at SDCC and press day but that’s pretty much it. Same with Stellan Skarsgaard. They work around what they have.
@ Kate:
You talk as if I didn’t know about his problems with fame. I do, ok?
Second: He WAS Marvel’s first choice. Why would Marvel drag on (for months!) negotiation with an actor that wasn’t their first choice?
And, please, I beg of you to ignore my comments on Joaquin Phoenix’s threads from now on. I’m asking this as a favour. There’s freedom of speech, I know. But it’s f*cking annoying to see you jumping on my comments whenever it’s about Phoenix.
P.S.: Celebitchy, next time you “tweak” the site, please consider adding an ignore button feature.
@ Eve-
It’s per Feige he wasn’t, although I don’t know for sure who was. They move down a list until they nail someone and will spend time negotiating with people who weren’t necessarily their out of the gate fave.
People are quite rude about celebs they don’t care for all the time here and I certainly wasn’t super nasty or rude enough about him above to warrant your reply, but fair enough, I won’t comment on your posts anymore.
@Lilacflowers, you can’t quite “work around” a lead in the first film of a new franchise.
Thank you, Kate.
But you misinterpreted my comment. I never said you’re rude towards Phoenix (and, quite honestly, you can be all you want, say whatever you want about him). I thought you’re just being wrong and, as a consequence, basically calling me a liar.
I do, however, apologize for my bluntness.
Feige changes the narrative whenever it best suits promotion of the product. When they announced the Spider Man deal, Feige was all about how this had been their goal for so long (and it was) and they were willing to move the MCU schedule around to accommodate the Spider Man deal, which they did – and Strange was one of the films that got moved. Then, much later, it was all how they moved it to accommodate Cumberbatch’s Hamlet.
Phoenix has actual talent and brains, so can do without this kind of gigs.
Benedict looks like Lord Business from the Lego Movie.
He really does.
Where’s Sixer? Kenneth Cranham! As you wished! Hurray!
I am just curious to see how BC will handle promoting this thing. I think it’ll be more demanding than his Oscar campaign.
Oh, he will promote the hell out of it. Promote it like it is MORE than his job. Overexpose himself until his visage is burned on our retinas.
Shortly after the release, there will be interviews in prestigious rags bemoaning his lack of privacy and waxing poetic about how the big payday films allow him to do theatah and biopics…
We’ll know we’ve reached peak BC if he’s on the cover of the likes of Good Housekeeping magazine! Actually, I am giggling just thinking about BC sharing his favorite recipe for chicken and dumplings.
See I’m ok with the Marvel shilling. It’s expected. It’s fun and it’s pure hype. The Oscar, though, shill is never flattering (for any actor or actress).
Have you seen his son’s face? Looks just like him. There are pics of them (Ben, Sophie and baby Christofer) in Soho, NY.
Where did you see un-blurred ones? the ones on DM are blurred out.
Someone posted some pics on Twitter but you can only see “half” of the baby’s face.
Sooner or later tumblr will post the pics. I confess I’d like too see what his child looks like.
If it’s true, they’ll be posted. Couldn’t see anything on my twitter. Too many photos of him working 🙂
I had a look on Tumblr and all I could find where crazies posting year-old photos of some American lady with her baby, who they claim the Cumberbatches, like, stole and are carrying around NY pretending is their son? Because they think baby-stealing is a thing celebrities openly do, and also that babies don’t age apparently?
The only pic where you could see his face was on twitter and it was removed.
I saw it . It honestly looks like any white blonde baby
Hum??? Of his son? … Strange…
To be fair this is the first time his kid has ever been papped (apart from that one shot where you couldn’t see his face) and he’s nearly a year old. He and his wife may have allowed their relationship and marriage to be used for publicity, but they’re obviously serious about protecting their child’s privacy.
Who needs to see his personal life when he has a Marvel franchise to be excited about? I mean I get it when it was a ghost town work-wise but I’m just glad that the work is back.
When was it a “ghost town work-wise”?
Mid last year before Hamlet where there was a lot of speculation
In light of the TIG movie promotion, Oscar push, Shanghai 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards, Red Nose Day, I was stunned he worked in a wedding, honeymoon and “nesting”.
I actually assumed there just weren’t many projects that would fit easily between the Oscars & Hamlet rehearsals – two fixed points on his schedule.
ah just saw the unblurred pics of the cumberbaby. Did Sophie and Benedict have a girl or a boy again?
Really? If it’s true where did you see them? The only one available was removed from the page.
They’re on tumblr, Nancy. I’m at home sick today, so I think I’m gonna pop some popcorn and wait for the crazies to spin this!!! The babe is absolutely precious and the spitting image of his Mum and Dad (who are kind of the spitting image of each other, so…).
As much as I’m in the “who cares what the crazies think” and “I lose respect for BC every time he acts like he cares what they think” camp, I’m chuffed to bits these pics exist. I know the unique brand of cuckoo that leads people to formulate conspiracy theories around the lives of celebrities is probably unaffected by things like REALITY, but it’s nice to see a little reality every now and again. 🙂
His baby looks like Shiloh Pitt when she was a baby.
You can see the unblurred pis at PPQ-1 tumblr page.
http://ppq-1.tumblr.com/
so does he have a girl or a boy?
Boy. I think the baby kind of looks like Prince George. Or really, pretty much any blond baby.
Christopher is an adorable baby, definitely has BC’s head as well as his (Wanda’s) nose and mouth.
He’s adorable. My opinion, he looks more like dad then mom, at least right now.
After all that’s been said, they really look happy and a couple, like they’ve grown on each other finally. Looks more Dad to me.